Quid pro quo and Fido

The Blue Cross animal charity in the UK has produced a document to help couples decide what will happen to their pets if they separate.

The document includes a legally binding pre-nuptial agreement for pet owners that states the owner s' responsibilities and the pet's rights in the event of a divorce .

According to a recent report, one in four divorced couples in the UK has argued about the ownership of the pets , with 66% admitting that a "pet nup" would have made things easier.

Break-ups have been the cause of almost 1000 pets being given up for Blue Cross's re-homing in the past five years .

The free document can be downloaded from the Blue Cross website: www.blue-cross.org.uk/pet-nup.